Cultured, savage beast

By Ben Ngai, Calgary Herald

Originally published: June 7, 2011

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Lotus, Jaguar, Aston Martin, Bentley, Rolls-Royce. Out of these fabled British car brands there is one whose sole passion in its 100-year history was building evocative and elegant sports cars. Its creations have long earned the respect of car aficionados, not least including members of the royal family as Prince William borrowed his father’s vintage example as the parting piece for his wedding.

It was an Aston Martin.

Just what makes one so special? It doesn’t have scissor doors and it can’t break world speed records.

Perhaps it’s the beauty, which as I learned, compels me to trace the lines on the aluminum skin as if to solidify its ethereal presence as I stood next to it. But beauty alone does not define this marque.

The underlying philosophy of every Aston Martin is very distinct; it’s as though they reflect virtues prized in its home nation.

Class, sensibility, elegance and understatement are their trademark, all combined with thrilling performance.

The brand marches forward with yet another new model: the Virage. In a nutshell, it is a reiteration of the modern classic that is the DB9 -a V-12-powered Grand Tourer that is the most successful model in Aston’s history.

The general criticism of this car is that it doesn’t bring anything new to the table as it keeps the same engine and chassis as the DB9. But the raison d’etre of the Virage really is to cater to buyers; it offers updated styling, a slight bump in power and standard carbon ceramic brakes over the DB9 and yet is more civilized than the hardcore, Bond-inspired DBS.

Priced between its stablemates, it sits about $20,000 above the DB9 at roughly $225,000 while costing $80,000 less than the DBS.

With the 2011 Virage, Aston is refreshing and popularizing a great recipe, which, being as good as it is, will give little reason for disappointment.

A sombre grey-coloured example was waiting for me in the parking lot of the Aston dealership in Calgary, its V-12 idling gently and at the ready. Its cabin felt like a cocoon, with its low-slung roofline and narrow teardrop windows blocking out much of the natural light.

The sharp scent of the leather permeated the interior as I settled in. Featuring seven different hides, the leather surfaces were delicate and supple to the touch, particularly as I gripped the wheel for the first time.

My fingers also grazed over the soothing, rich texture of the Alcantara trim, which was applied generously throughout the interior. The workmanship alone in the cabin took 70 man-hours of handcrafting in England.

Contrary to the expectations of a luxury car, its dash was left uncluttered from electronic gadgetry. Its buttons and functions could be learned within seconds, most of which are driving oriented.

Its layout is a mark of Aston’s philosophy that a sports car should be a driver’s car and should not allow technology to get in the way of the interface. It gave me even more encouragement to set out.

The throttle was responsive and silky smooth under light acceleration while emitting a low metallic growl from stoplight to stoplight.

Though capable of gargantuan power, the engine was very civilized in stop-and-go traffic.

Despite its wide haunches and stocky appearance, the Virage responded nimbly and smartly to inputs on inner-city streets.

On a proper road when there’s room for the 6.0-L V-12 to stretch its legs, the poised aristocrat transformed into a savage animal with a sharp, scintillating howl.

At 6,000 r.p.m., with the sound of the rich exhaust note reverberating off the concrete median mere feet away from the open window, sparks were going off at the base of my brain.

With 490 h.p. and 420 ft.-lbs. of grunt, I expected savage acceleration that would turn my knuckles white on the wheel.

But the speed piled on in almost serene fashion, the power was incredibly linear while also ready and willing from almost anywhere on the rev range.

At speeds that would be quite dramatic in most cars, the Virage simply cruised effortlessly while keeping the driver in sedate and quiet comfort. That is the experience a Grand Tourer should give.

The suspension was more than equal to both the decaying streets of downtown and the twisting ribbons of highway in the foothills.

Its dampers will adjust automatically to iron out even the most jarring of sunken sewer covers, using sensors to "learn" the surface of the road.

On the other hand, it firms up the suspension if it detects a more spirited driving style. It counteracts body roll with oil pumps that react to cornering loads, the result of which is steadfast poise through the transitions in the esses and long sweeping curves.

Finally the carbon ceramic brakes, which come standard on the Virage, round off a dynamic package that inspires confidence and encourages you to be more precise after every corner.

But the smart suspension aids come with a sacrifice in feel as I felt a bit isolated at the controls.

The unexpected variables of an exciting road were ironed out, making me feel I was robbed from a much more engaging sensation.

But that comes down to personal preference, and Aston’s lineup offers several choices to those with a taste for something more hardcore (see the Vantage S).

After returning the Virage to its handlers, I marvelled at how the car strikes a confident balance between comfort and thrill, sensibility and performance, all packaged underneath an elegantly crafted skin that simply stirs the soul.

For those fortunate enough to own one, it would make a captivating daily companion.

(Pricing starts at $224,100 for the Virage coupe and $244,350 for the Virage Volante.)